Sunday, August 28, 2011
Day 2 : 22nd August 2011 - First day at office
Awoke pretty early, still tired and with a lousy back pain. Had taken a couple of medicines overnight and luckily the pain was a bit lesser. After a quick shave and bath, went to the hotel's restraunt. Treated my stomach with a couple of tasty chicken sausages, hash
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Day 1 : 21st August 2011 - Arrival at Reading
It was Sunday, 21st August. This was the day I left for Reading from Bangalore via Mumbai.
Awoke early at around 0530 IST with a heavy heart and a sleepless night. Got ready and by 0615 IST I was out of the house after seeking blessings from my parents and my aunt. Was filled with very sad emotions, wanted to cry but somehow I held back my tears in front of my mother. Didn't want to see her with a sad face when I was leaving for a long while. This is certainly going to be longest period of my life I shall be staying without my family, my mother, yet. In 2007, I was in UK for a period of 3 months. But this was certainly going to be the max period.
Reached the BIAL by around 0650 IST. Checked into the Jet Airways counter and requested for a thru check-in as I was flying from Mumbai to London via Jet Airways once again. After obtaining my tickets (From BLR-MUM and MUM-LHR), I then boarded the flight from BLR at 0835 AM. Reached MUM at around 0955 IST and again boarded the flight bound to LHR at 1255 IST. Reached LHR at 1725 BST (or around 2155 IST) on 21st August.
Luckily the immigration check was a breeze and was done with the stamping within a couple of minutes, though the queue and the wait to the counter was long and tedious. Took a bus (as per the advise from the Information counter) from the Terminal 4 to the Terminal 5 of the Heathrow Airport. From there I got a bus almost immediately to Reading.
The journey from Heathrow to Reading was just about 35 mins or so. Luckily the distance from the Reading station to the hotel where I was accommodated for the first 5 days was just about 50-60 yards away. Located the place easily with the help of a kind English taxi driver who gave me the directions perfectly.
Reached the hotel and to my good luck and to His grace and blessing's I got a confirmed room at the hotel. Had forgotten to confirm to the Hospitality team to book my room.
Reached my room and found the room to be small, nice and a cozy little one. Had all the basic features, like a bad, a table for my stuff, a small cupboard, a chair, a double bed ofcourse and a small attached bathroom. Perfect.
Refreshed quickly and then by around 2100 BST I was on my way to the Reading station to understand the train timings to Guildford as I needed to report to this place on Monday. After learning of the train timings, explored the place a little bit. Ate something at Burger King and checked into the hotel once again. Unpacked my bag with whatever stuff I required for the night and the next day. Checked my mails, spoke with a good friend (Paul Brock) and his wife over the Skype and also informed mum of my safe arrival into the country, city and hotel and in a short while i hit the sack, dog tired!!!!
Vinay
24-08-2011, 2246 BST
Awoke early at around 0530 IST with a heavy heart and a sleepless night. Got ready and by 0615 IST I was out of the house after seeking blessings from my parents and my aunt. Was filled with very sad emotions, wanted to cry but somehow I held back my tears in front of my mother. Didn't want to see her with a sad face when I was leaving for a long while. This is certainly going to be longest period of my life I shall be staying without my family, my mother, yet. In 2007, I was in UK for a period of 3 months. But this was certainly going to be the max period.
Reached the BIAL by around 0650 IST. Checked into the Jet Airways counter and requested for a thru check-in as I was flying from Mumbai to London via Jet Airways once again. After obtaining my tickets (From BLR-MUM and MUM-LHR), I then boarded the flight from BLR at 0835 AM. Reached MUM at around 0955 IST and again boarded the flight bound to LHR at 1255 IST. Reached LHR at 1725 BST (or around 2155 IST) on 21st August.
Luckily the immigration check was a breeze and was done with the stamping within a couple of minutes, though the queue and the wait to the counter was long and tedious. Took a bus (as per the advise from the Information counter) from the Terminal 4 to the Terminal 5 of the Heathrow Airport. From there I got a bus almost immediately to Reading.
The journey from Heathrow to Reading was just about 35 mins or so. Luckily the distance from the Reading station to the hotel where I was accommodated for the first 5 days was just about 50-60 yards away. Located the place easily with the help of a kind English taxi driver who gave me the directions perfectly.
Reached the hotel and to my good luck and to His grace and blessing's I got a confirmed room at the hotel. Had forgotten to confirm to the Hospitality team to book my room.
Reached my room and found the room to be small, nice and a cozy little one. Had all the basic features, like a bad, a table for my stuff, a small cupboard, a chair, a double bed ofcourse and a small attached bathroom. Perfect.
Refreshed quickly and then by around 2100 BST I was on my way to the Reading station to understand the train timings to Guildford as I needed to report to this place on Monday. After learning of the train timings, explored the place a little bit. Ate something at Burger King and checked into the hotel once again. Unpacked my bag with whatever stuff I required for the night and the next day. Checked my mails, spoke with a good friend (Paul Brock) and his wife over the Skype and also informed mum of my safe arrival into the country, city and hotel and in a short while i hit the sack, dog tired!!!!
Vinay
24-08-2011, 2246 BST
A new blog!!!
Decided to create new blog to record my days, incidents, travels at Reading and Guildford in 2011 and 2012.
Planning to have this written/updated every single day of my visit in these 2 places. After all, years later I need to recollect my days spent here and perhaps have several tales to tell to people.
Vinay
24-08-2011, 21:04 BST (British Summer Time, GMT+1)
Planning to have this written/updated every single day of my visit in these 2 places. After all, years later I need to recollect my days spent here and perhaps have several tales to tell to people.
Vinay
24-08-2011, 21:04 BST (British Summer Time, GMT+1)
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